Car comparison: the compact electric edition

Are you looking for a salary-saving option for the daily commute or a run-around-town type car for your weekly errands? If so, a small, lower budget, electric car could be the ideal solution. 

Here at Octane Finance, we want to be with you during every step of your car buying journey; from picking your perfect model, to picking up your chosen vehicle. In this dedicated car comparison article, we’ve put two compact electric cars head-to-head so you can choose the right car for your needs.

Smart EQ ForTwo versus Fiat 500 Action

We've done the research, so you don’t have to! Discover two of the top options currently available in the compact electric car market - the sassy Smart EQ ForTwo and the fun-loving Fiat 500 Action. 

Both of these cars qualify for the government low-emission vehicle grant, but how do they compare for everyday use? Take a look below to find out more… 

Discover the Fiat 500 Action

Introducing the new 500 Hatchback Action from Fiat, available in six nature-inspired colours for the full ‘go-green’ experience. Fiat’s objective was to create a modern car that still paid tribute to its heritage and the iconic 1957 Fiat 500. 

Cleverly crafted for the city, the three-door BEV Hatchback Action is an entry-level 100% battery electric vehicle developed for your daily commute and after-work activities. It’s one of the first electric cars on the market to boast ‘one pedal driving’, so the right-hand pedal is used to accelerate AND decelerate.

The Fiat 500 Action is available in a choice of two battery sizes, giving consumers the option of investing in a 24kWh (City Range) or larger 42kWh (Long Range) battery. Compared to its petrol-fueled cousin, Fiat 500 fans can enjoy 60mm of extra length and width for the electric-only version. 

Discover the Smart EQ ForTwo

Introducing the all-electric two-seater micro car designed by Smart. With its progressive design, the Smart EQ ForTwo boasts an iconic design featuring an expressive front grille to show it means business.

It’s just as short as the original combustion engine version, but as a 100% fully electric vehicle, you can be confident driving from A to B with zero emissions, making it the ultimate city car. You can even choose the option of a convertible version to feel the wind in your hair and the sun on your face.

Step up your driving game thanks to the Smart EQ ForTwo’s intelligent connectivity, even greater agility, and - for a small car - its full torque ability providing seamless acceleration, making it ready to take on the big boys of the road.  

Battle of the battery range

For many people, the most important factor when buying an electric car is how long it will take to charge and how many miles the vehicle will travel on a single charge. 

All hail the Fiat 500 Action, which wins by a generous margin. The car has a range of up to 115-miles (WLTP) on a single charge for the 24kWh version and takes just 30 minutes to reach 80% capacity of its full battery charge. If you require that bit more for longer journeys, then the 42kWh battery model will stretch up to 199-miles of range. 

The all-new 500 Action can be fast-charged using a 50kw charger, where you can benefit from a coffee break boost charge on-the-go, reaching 30-miles of range in just six minutes. 

These results compare with up to 81-miles of range (WLTP) on a single charge for the Smart EQ ForTwo which houses a petite 16.6kWh size battery. Whilst 34-miles doesn’t seem like a huge distance, on a longer journey it can make all the difference. Charging takes an extra 10 minutes to reach 80% battery capacity, so expect to allow 40 minutes of charge time by comparison. 

Interior details

It comes as no surprise that compact cars are great for squeezing into those tight parking spots, so the Smart EQ ForTwo and the Fiat 500 Action are perfect parkers. However, it does come at a cost as there is less space inside each vehicle.

As the name suggests, the Smart EQ ForTwo will only seat two people. If you’re planning on carrying more than one passenger, the Fiat 500 Action is much roomier with space for four adults inside. 

Despite the Smart car range being well-known as the ultimate micro-mini, you may be surprised to learn it actually beats the competition when it comes to boot space. The Smart EQ ForTwo has a roomy 260-litre boot capacity, which hands-down surpasses the 185-litre boot in the Fiat 500 Action.

Key features

Who doesn’t love a bit of tech? If a car full of features is what you’re looking for, then there’s no argument that the Smart EQ ForTwo is a more basic vehicle than the Fiat 500 Action. Both cars have rear parking sensors, emergency brake assistance, and climate control as standard, but if you want a bit more for your buck, the Fiat 500 Action adds a few more gadgets into the mix… 

Expect a dedicated fatigue detection and alert system, an emergency SOS button, keyless ignition, and rain sensing wipers to name a few. Perhaps the most modern addition is that both cars come with a compatible app to help you manage your car's various features and track the battery life in real-time - nice!

Eco-friendly options

As we journey towards a greener future of travel, electric cars are the answer. But it’s not just the battery engines that make them eco-friendly options; both models offer eco-driving modes too. 

With the Smart EQ ForTwo, green is the way forward; activate a whole host of energy-saving features at the touch of a button. Benefit from radar-based energy recovery as standard - depending on the traffic, the car will select an optimal level of energy recovery itself - clever! 

In the Fiat 500 Action you can take advantage of Fiat’s ‘Sherpa Mode’ - an eco-specific driving feature which works to save energy, whilst also optimising the overall performance. 

Carbon footprint-wary consumers will also relish the fact that the Fiat 500 Action contains seats made of Seaqual yarn, a sustainable fabric made from plastic collected from the sea. Although not a functional feature, it will probably give you the feel-good factor whenever you’re seated.  

Comparing the cost

Investing in an electric car doesn’t have to cost the earth thanks to Fiat’s very reasonable price for its 500 Action model. The no-extra-options version starts at £23,835 (without the government grant) for the smaller 24kWh version, so you can save a pretty penny compared to other electric compact hatchbacks on the market. 

However, in terms of cost, it’s the Smart EQ ForTwo that is the more budget-friendly of the two models. You can get on the road from just £20,725 for the basic model, meaning this little electric coupé could be more affordable than you think!

So, which will you choose? Now you have all the facts, we’ll leave the decision-making to you!